In the shadowed city of Haliçis, just before dawn painted the sky with the soft hues of morning, Ember was trapped in a nightmare she couldn't escape. Her body trembled beneath the cold sheen of sweat that coated her skin. She struggled desperately to open her eyes, but they felt heavy—as if something unseen held them shut. She tried to scream, tried to call out for help, but her voice was stolen by the darkness. There was no one to hear her.
Her breath came in ragged gasps as she ran through pitch-black alleys, faceless shadows chasing her, their footsteps echoing like thunder in her ears. She couldn't see where she was going—only blackness all around. Panic clawed at her chest. And then—
Her eyes flew open.
The nightmare shattered like glass, and Ember jolted upright, panting like she'd been running for miles. Her heart raced, beating so hard it ached. With trembling fingers, she wiped the cold sweat from her forehead, trying to calm the storm inside her.
Beside her, Dylan lay asleep—serene, untouched by the chaos that had haunted her dreams. Ember's panicked breathing slowed as her eyes settled on his peaceful face. The lines of fear softened as she leaned closer, her fingertips brushing gently against his cheek. The warmth of his skin reminded her—she wasn't alone. Someone was here. Someone was waiting for her.
She pressed a tender kiss to his forehead, her hand grazing his lips.
"So soft…" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Moved by something deep within her, Ember leaned closer, her lips finding his in a soft, lingering kiss.
"I love you," she breathed against his mouth.
Dylan didn't stir. Or so she thought. She kissed him once more—sweet and slow—and as she pulled back, her eyes met his. He was awake. Watching her.
Startled, Ember began to move away, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment, but before she could retreat, Dylan's hand caught hers—firm, warm, and possessive. In one swift motion, he pulled her back toward him, flipping her onto the bed. He hovered above her now, eyes dark with desire, a wicked grin tugging at the corners of his lips.
"What are you doing?" Ember asked breathlessly, her heart thudding beneath him.
He leaned in closer, his voice low and teasing.
"You're the one being naughty so early in the morning…"
His words were playful, but his eyes were fierce—protective. The kind of look that said he'd tear apart any nightmare that dared to touch her again.
Ember didn't say a word—because what Dylan said was true. Her silence, however, betrayed her embarrassment as a soft pink bloomed across her cheeks.
Dylan's eyes darkened with mischief. "Whenever you blush like that, I just want to bite your cheek. You look like a sweet cherry…"
Without warning, he leaned in and gave her left cheek a playful nip. Ember gasped softly, eyes wide with surprise. When Dylan pulled back, a faint, flushed mark had appeared on her skin. He grinned as his gaze lingered on it.
"So cute."
"Don't do it again," Ember said, trying to sound stern, but her voice quivered—part protest, part secret desire.
Dylan's smile deepened as he brushed her hair behind her ear and murmured, "You're mine, Ember. I can mark what's mine if I want to... don't you think?"
She looked away, flustered. "Stop teasing me…"
"Okay," he said softly, "I won't."
But the way he looked at her told another story.
He moved closer, their bodies nearly touching as he gazed into her eyes—his look filled with heat, hunger, and something deeper. Then, without another word, he tilted his head slightly and captured her lips in a kiss that stole the air from her lungs.
It wasn't gentle. It was deep. Intense. Breathless. A kiss that said he needed her—all of her. Dylan kissed her like he was claiming her, like he was making sure she knew she was his, and only his.
Ember melted into him, hands gripping his arms, breath caught in her throat. She was overwhelmed and yet craving more—lost in the way he tasted, the way his fingers skimmed her waist, anchoring her closer.
When he finally pulled back, Ember lay beneath him, panting, lips swollen, eyes dazed. Dylan looked down at her and nearly gave in to the urge to tease her again, to kiss her until she couldn't think. But something in the way she looked—so vulnerable, so beautiful—made him pause.
Instead, he leaned down and pressed a tender kiss to her forehead.
"What do you want for breakfast?" he asked, standing and stretching. "I'll make it for you."
Ember blinked at him, still breathless. "You? Cook?"
Dylan raised a brow. "Why not?"
"Because you don't know how. You'll probably burn down the kitchen," she teased, finally finding her voice.
"Ouch," Dylan laughed. "You really said that to my face? I can try, you know."
"You did try last time," Ember reminded him. "And you failed. Spectacularly."
He gave her a mock-offended look, chuckling. "Fine. We'll talk about it after we freshen up."
Ember nodded and began to get up from the bed, but the moment she tried to stand, her legs gave out beneath her. She collapsed to the floor with a soft thud, her body trembling in shock.
"Ember!" Dylan was at her side in an instant, scooping her up into his arms and gently placing her back on the bed. His face was no longer playful—it was pale, eyes wide with fear.
"What happened?" he asked urgently.
A single tear slipped down Ember's cheek. She looked at him with helpless eyes and whispered, "My legs… I can't feel them."
Dylan froze.
"What?" he said, voice sharp with disbelief.
Ember's lips trembled. "I… I can't…"
Dylan wrapped Ember tightly in his arms, holding her like she might vanish if he let go. She trembled against him, her tears refusing to stop, soaking into his shirt. His voice dropped to a low, steady whisper as he pressed his lips to her temple.
"It's okay, sweetheart. We'll figure it out. Adrian can help us. He's the best, and he's on our side. We'll find out what's going on with your legs, I promise."
But Ember's tears kept falling. Her fear clung to her like a second skin, and the silence of her own body—her legs unresponsive—was the kind of nightmare she couldn't wake from.
Dylan gently cupped her face, lifting her chin until their eyes met. His gaze was fierce, full of protectiveness and unspoken desperation.
"Baby, look at me." His voice softened. "I'm right here. You're not alone, okay? We've got this. I swear to you, nothing's going to happen to you. We have Adrian. We'll do whatever it takes to make you better. Just… please don't cry. I can't stand to see you like this."
His words slowly reached her heart. She nodded weakly, clinging to him as if he were her anchor in a storm she couldn't control. After calming her down, Dylan gently helped her freshen up—carrying her when her legs wouldn't respond, his touch careful, reverent, full of tenderness. Every time she winced, his jaw tightened. Every time she smiled, even faintly, it lit a fire in his eyes.
He carried her to the dining room, only to find breakfast already prepared and waiting for them on the table. A handwritten note rested beside the dishes. Dylan picked it up, his expression softening as he read it aloud:
"Son, have breakfast with Ember. Take care of yourself—and my daughter-in-law. We had some early errands, so we're leaving now. If you need anything, call us. Love you. – Mother."
Dylan chuckled and turned the note toward Ember, his lips brushing her ear as he whispered playfully, "Baby, look. My mother's already calling you her daughter-in-law."
Ember blinked, stunned, then quickly reached for the note, reading it again just to make sure he wasn't teasing. Her eyes widened. A blush painted her cheeks as her lips curved into a shy but radiant smile—one that made Dylan's heart flip in his chest.
God, that smile could bring kingdoms to their knees.
He leaned down and kissed her cheek, then her lips, slowly, deliberately.
"You have no idea what you do to me when you smile like that," he murmured against her mouth.
They sat together for breakfast, Dylan feeding her bites of fruit with gentle hands, stealing kisses between sips of coffee, whispering soft things that made her laugh and forget, for a little while, the fear that gripped her.
Afterward, they got ready for the hospital. Dylan helped her into her clothes, every touch careful, reverent—as if dressing something precious he didn't dare break. When she looked uncertain in the mirror, he wrapped his arms around her from behind and kissed her neck.
"No matter what happens today," he whispered, "I'm not going anywhere. You're mine, Ember. And I'll fight the whole damn world if I have to, just to see you walk again."
With Ember in his arms and Adrian waiting at the hospital, they stepped out together—into the unknown, into whatever came next.